Priority one
Safer Streets Start With Confronting the Problem
Terry has made drug activity and discarded needles a central focus of his campaign because he has encountered both firsthand through years of outreach and warming-center work.
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He supports Bangor's police officers and believes they need the resources and tools necessary to protect residents, businesses, neighborhoods, and public spaces. Terry also believes reducing the drug activity behind the problem is essential to reducing the number of discarded needles in the community.
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His goal is a Bangor where families feel comfortable using parks and trails, residents can walk downtown, and businesses can operate without accepting unsafe conditions as normal.
THIS ISN'T A NEW CAMPAIGN ISSUE
Before he entered this race, Terry was already bringing these concerns to Bangor City Council.
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In August 2022, he urged action against drug dealers while speaking about conditions surrounding a Bangor homeless encampment. In November 2025, he called for the Police Department to have the resources necessary to confront the drug epidemic.
"I think we need to stop the drugs. If you stop the drugs, the needles go away."
— Terry Dinkins
01 — Support Public Safety
Bangor’s police officers should have the staffing, resources, and tools necessary to respond effectively and protect residents, businesses, and neighborhoods.
02 — Confront Drug Activity
Terry believes Bangor must address the drug trafficking and activity contributing to addiction, discarded needles, and disorder throughout the city.
03 — Protect Public Spaces
Parks, sidewalks, downtown streets, and neighborhoods should remain safe and usable, with discarded needles addressed promptly and public-safety laws enforced consistently.
PRIORITY TWO
Homelessness, Addiction & Serious Mental Illness
Different Needs Require Different Responses.
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Terry has spent years working directly with people experiencing homelessness and addiction through The Mansion Church and its recurring winter warming center. That experience has shown him that homelessness is not one problem with one solution.
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Some people primarily need housing. Some need addiction treatment and recovery. Others are living with serious mental illness and need professional intervention and stabilization.
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Bangor cannot address these challenges alone. Terry supports a coordinated response involving city government, law enforcement, treatment and mental-health providers, housing organizations, and county and state partners.
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Success should mean helping people move toward recovery and stability—not simply cycling between the street, emergency services, and jail.
Experience Behind the Position
MARCH 2020
The Mansion Church opened its overnight warming center.
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25 BEDS
A state and MaineHousing grant supported 25 warming-center beds.
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ABOUT 350 PEOPLE
Dinkins estimated that roughly 350 different people used the shelter during the 2025–26 winter.
HOUSING & STABILITY
Support practical paths toward stable housing while recognizing that housing alone cannot resolve addiction or untreated serious mental illness.
TREATMENT & RECOVERY
Connect people struggling with addiction to treatment and recovery resources that offer a realistic path toward long-term stability.
MENTAL-HEALTH INTERVENTION
Work with qualified professionals and county and state partners to improve intervention and stabilization for people experiencing serious mental illness.
PRIORITY THREE
ECONOMIC GROWTH & AFFORDABILITY
A Stronger Bangor Starts With Responsible Growth.
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Terry believes Bangor’s property-tax burden is too high. His approach begins with setting a responsible city budget and following it.
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Long-term tax relief also requires a broader tax base. Terry supports attracting businesses, encouraging investment, and adding more homes and apartment buildings so the burden does not continue falling on the same residents and businesses.
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He wants Bangor to examine whether its development processes are discouraging builders and investors—without claiming that one policy change will solve the entire problem.
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That also means making better use of Bangor’s waterfront. Terry has discussed possibilities such as a marina, restaurants, and complementary development that could make the waterfront more active and economically productive.
THE BASIC APPROACH
Control spending. Encourage growth. Broaden the tax base.
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AN ACTIVE WATERFRONT
Explore a marina, restaurants, and complementary development that make better economic use of Bangor’s waterfront.
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RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING
Begin with a realistic city budget and follow it, with careful attention to the burden city decisions place on property taxpayers.
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MORE HOUSING
Support more homes and apartment buildings while examining whether Bangor’s development process is discouraging builders.
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BUSINESS & INVESTMENT
Make Bangor more welcoming to businesses and investment that can create jobs and expand the city’s tax base.
Support Terry Dinkins for Bangor City Council
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Register to vote, support the campaign, or join the team working for a safer and stronger Bangor.